Event Menu

The third annual Texas Fall Fest & Wine Auction takes place this weekend at the Marriott's Horseshoe Bay Resort (www.horseshoebaymarriott.com). The fun-filled weekend includes seminars, wine and food tastings, a luncheon at Fall Creek Vineyards with renown Texas cheese-maker Paula Lambert, a wine auction gala hosted by chef/author Damian Mandola and our own Wes Marshall, and a Sunday brunch. For a complete schedule and ticket information, call the Texas Wine and Grape Growers Association at 817/424-0570 or go to www.texasfallfest.com. Friday-Sunday, Nov. 2-4.

One delicious feature of this weekend's Grazing America '07 Conference (www.americangrassfed.org) is the RAFT Picnic at the Sheraton Austin Hotel (701 E. 11th). RAFT stands for Renewing America's Food Traditions and is dedicated to "advancing the conservation and enjoyment of distinctively American" regional food traditions, heirloom vegetables, and heritage breeds. Chef Jesse Griffiths of the Dai Due Supper Club (www.daidueaustin.com) has designed the picnic menu featuring some RAFT items that originate in Central Texas. Tickets are $30. Make necessary reservations by calling 460-9879 or online at www.slowfoodaustin.org. Saturday, Nov. 3, 4pm.

The Belmont (305 W. Sixth, 457-0300) continues its very sociable wine-education series, UnWine Wednesdays, this month with South American wines (Nov. 7), Fun & Lively Whites (Nov. 14), Cool & Groovy Reds (Nov. 21), and Luscious Chardonnays (Nov. 28). Wednesdays in November, 6-8pm.

In order to capture more daylight hours, the Austin Farmers' Market at the Triangle has changed the hours of operation to 3-7pm every Wednesday afternoon. The Downtown Market continues to be open from 9am to 1pm every Saturday at Fourth and Guadalupe.

Doña Emilia's South American Bar & Grill (101 San Jacinto, 478-2520) will donate a portion of the proceeds from an evening promoting the Central Texas youth empowerment programs of the digital webzine Latinitas (www.latinitasmagazine.org). The event will include raffles, door prizes, and live music. Wednesday, Nov. 7, 6-9pm.

WineBat.com continues their weekly Blind Wine Tastings at Green Pastures (811 W. Live Oak, 444-4747). The evening opens with a wine and hors d'oeuvres reception followed by six blind tastings paired with appetizers prepared by chef Charles Bloemsma. Tickets are $25, and reservations are required. Make them online, or call 961-6151 or 444-5400. – V.B.W.